a study conducted by the University of North Carolina<\/a>\u00a0which covered 1,017 adolescents when they were ages twelve to fourteen and then again two years later, reported in 2006 that those exposed to the highest levels of sexual content in music, magazines, television, and movies became involved in the most sexual activity. According to Jane Brown, the chief author of the report, “This is the first time we’ve shown that the more kids are exposed to sex in media the earlier they have sex.” Neither study included exposure to the Internet.<\/p>\nWhat can we learn from these studies?<\/p>\n
Teenagers Are Involved in Sexual Activity<\/h3>\n
Sin was so rampant in the time of Jeremiah that the people “were not at all ashamed; nor did they know how to blush<\/em>” (Jeremiah 6:15). Is it shocking to read about the young ages of the children involved in these studies? Or, have we gotten used to it? We should be outraged at the thought of fourteen-year-olds committing fornication for a variety of reasons. Yes, teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases are likely to result from those activities. But the greater problem is that young people in our society are corrupting themselves at ever earlier ages while getting a head-start down the path that leads to eternal destruction in the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8).<\/p>\nTelevision, Movies, Music, and the Internet Are Influencing Teenagers<\/h3>\n
Is it a surprise that these things are affecting not only the thinking but also the actions of young people? it shouldn’t be. As the proverb writer asks, “Can a man take fire to his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?<\/em>” (Proverbs 6:27). The one who says, “I can watch that stuff without it affecting me” is either very foolish, very ignorant, or both. Exposure to sexual content in the media accomplishes two things. First, it trains the mind to dwell upon and lust for that which is wrong and sinful (see Matthew 5:27,28). And secondly, it convinces those partaking of it that sexually immoral behavior is perfectly normal and acceptable.<\/p>\nThe Situation Is Even Worse Than the Studies Indicate<\/h3>\n
While the news reported in these studies is terrible, the reality is likely far worse simply based upon the fact that neither study included the impact of the Internet. While sexually charged viewing is available on television at various times, the perversion of pornography is available on the internet twenty- four hours a day, seven days a week. When the heart is filled with filth the heart will produce filth. “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders<\/em>” (Mark 7:21).<\/p>\nThese Things Are Not Just Teenage Problems<\/h3>\n
Though the studies focused on those between the ages of twelve and seventeen, the problem is not theirs alone. Who is allowing these kids to fill their minds with immoral entertainment? God’s rule for the home is that children are to be raised “In the training and admonition of the Lord<\/em>” (Ephesians 6:4). Parents, what will you do about your children? Are you sitting idly by while your children feed on filth? Are you setting the right example by staying away from ungodly entertainment yourself? The responsibility for dealing with this situation falls not only on the young people involved but also squarely on the shoulders of each parent. And, though these recent studies were limited to teenagers, do not think that ungodly entertainment only affects the behavior of teenagers.<\/p>\nConclusion<\/h3>\n
The recently reported studies tell us what is going on among young people in the world. However, we need to be reminded that we are not to be conformed to the ways of the world (Romans 12:1,2). What are you allowing to fill your mind and the minds of your teenagers?<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by David Dann via\u00a0Truth Magazine, Vol. 52, No. 2, Feb. 2008. The apostle Paul warned the young man, Timothy, saying, “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (II Timothy 2:22). It is obvious from Paul’s instruction that in order to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[759,1572,226],"class_list":["post-26011","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-entertainment","tag-fornication","tag-pornography"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":13734,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-kissing-and-fondling-my-boyfriend-fornication\/","url_meta":{"origin":26011,"position":0},"title":"Is kissing and fondling my boyfriend fornication?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 30, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: My boyfriend and I indulge in kissing and fondling only. Could this be fornication? Answer: The Bible states that sexual touching is not right prior to marriage. \"Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman\" (I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":18544,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-problem-of-private-lust\/","url_meta":{"origin":26011,"position":1},"title":"The Problem of Private Lust","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 17, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"by Connie Adams Lust has gone public in America. No subject is too delicate for a television or movie script. Pornography is big business. Absolutely nothing is left to the imagination. Yet, this business would utterly fail were it not for the fact that it feeds the private yearnings of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/01\/hearts.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":58398,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/obscene-movies-and-tv-programs\/","url_meta":{"origin":26011,"position":2},"title":"Obscene Movies and TV Programs","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 24, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"by Gary Henry via, Lost River Bulletin, Vol. 58, No. 3, Aug. 2008. Few things frighten me any more than the passing comments I hear brothers and sisters in the Lord make about movies and TV programs they've permitted themselves and their children to see. Just when I believe there\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":22301,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-sexual-immorality-porneia-include-masturbation\/","url_meta":{"origin":26011,"position":3},"title":"Does “sexual immorality” (porneia) include masturbation?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 28, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I would like to just say in\u00a0some previous answers\u00a0you have said that masturbation is not mentioned as a sin, but it is. We are told in Acts 15:20 to flee from sexual immorality. Today, most of the world sees masturbation as sexual immorality, and it has always been considered\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":15854,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-does-the-bible-mean-by-my-sons-think-only-of-what-is-holy-what-is-honorable-etc\/","url_meta":{"origin":26011,"position":4},"title":"What does the Bible mean by \u201cMy sons, think only of what is holy, what is honorable\u201d etc.?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 20, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: What does the Bible mean by \u201cMy sons, think only of what is holy, what is honorable,\u201d etc.? Answer: Jesus taught, \"The eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is clear, your whole body also is full of light; but when it is bad, your body\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":26153,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/coed-slumber-parties\/","url_meta":{"origin":26011,"position":5},"title":"Coed Slumber Parties?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 22, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"by George Hutto That's the title of a recent article in the teen section of the local paper, (Times Daily, Florence, AL, June 1, 2005, p. 6e). \"Innocent fun or danger zone?\" is the subtitle. The simple asking of the question is disturbing. In this article the author, Helena Ollviero\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/CoedSlumberParty.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26011","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26011"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26011\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26011"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26011"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26011"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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The apostle Paul warned the young man, Timothy, saying, “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart<\/em>” (II Timothy 2:22). It is obvious from Paul’s instruction that in order to avoid sexual sin one must focus on that which is pure.<\/p>\n